This study examined the relationships among personality traits, coping efficacy, and academic stress in medical and non-medical students in South Korea, and investigated the mediating effect of coping efficacy in the relationship between personality traits and academic stress. The study group comprised 210 medical students and 175 non-medical students. They were asked to rate their personality traits, coping efficacy, and academic stress. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS ver. 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) and AMOS ver. 26.0 (IBM Corp.). Medical students scored higher for examination stress and lower for extroversion than non-medical students. In both groups, extroversion and conscientiousness positively affected coping efficacy, while neuroticism influenced it negatively. Neuroticism directly influenced all types of academic stress in both groups, while extroversion and conscientiousness only had direct effects on examination stress among medical students. Coping efficacy mediated the associations between personality traits and academic stress, except for the relationship between neuroticism and grade stress among medical students. The study indicates that coping efficacy had a significant effect on relieving academic stress among students with higher scores for extroversion and conscientiousness. Efforts should be made to decrease neuroticism to lower academic stress, as the relationship between neuroticism and academic stress is not directly influenced by coping efficacy. The implications of these results are discussed regarding a consultation system for students, especially those in medical school.

This study examined the relationships among personality traits, coping efficacy, and academic stress in medical and non-medical students in South Korea, and investigated the mediating effect of coping efficacy in the relationship between personality traits and academic stress. The study group comprised 210 medical students and 175 non-medical students. They were asked to rate their personality traits, coping efficacy, and academic stress. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS ver. 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) and AMOS ver. 26.0 (IBM Corp.). Medical students scored higher for examination stress and lower for extroversion than non-medical students. In both groups, extroversion and conscientiousness positively affected coping efficacy, while neuroticism influenced it negatively. Neuroticism directly influenced all types of academic stress in both groups, while extroversion and conscientiousness only had direct effects on examination stress among medical students. Coping efficacy mediated the associations between personality traits and academic stress, except for the relationship between neuroticism and grade stress among medical students. The study indicates that coping efficacy had a significant effect on relieving academic stress among students with higher scores for extroversion and conscientiousness. Efforts should be made to decrease neuroticism to lower academic stress, as the relationship between neuroticism and academic stress is not directly influenced by coping efficacy. The implications of these results are discussed regarding a consultation system for students, especially those in medical school.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) plays an important role in trafficking leukocytes and developing immune disorders including autoimmunity. In the synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, increased expression of S1P was reported, and the interaction between S1P and S1P receptor 1 (S1P1) has been suggested to regulate the expression of inflammatory genes and the proliferation of synovial cells. In this study, we investigated the level of S1P1 mRNA expression in the blood leukocytes of RA patients. In contrast to the previous reports, the expression level of this gene was not correlated to their clinical scores, disease durations and ages. However, S1P1 was transcribed at a significantly lower level in the circulating leukocytes of RA patients when compared to age-, and sex-matched healthy controls. Since these data may suggest the participation of S1P1, further studies are needed to determine the role of this receptor in the pathogenesis of RA.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Autoimmunity ; Humans ; Immune System Diseases ; Leukocytes* ; Receptors, Lysosphingolipid* ; RNA, Messenger ; Synovial Membrane

The aim of the present multi-institutional study was to assess the influence of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) classification on adjuvant chemotherapy eligibility and survival in a multi-institutional cohort of patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). We retrospectively reviewed data from 416 patients who underwent RNU for UTUC at four Korean institutions between 2001 and 2013. The ASA-PS classification was obtained from the anesthesia chart. Locally advanced UTUC was defined as ≥ pT3 and/or pN1 disease. The influence of ASA-PS score on survival was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analyses and a multivariate Cox regression model. Patients with a higher ASA-PS class were less likely to be eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced UTUC (P = 0.016). Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that the high-risk ASA-PS group has a poorer overallsurvival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) compared to low risk ASA-PS groups in both the total and locally advanced UTUC cohorts. Based on multivariate Cox regression analysis, the high-risk ASA-PS category was an independent predictor for overall mortality (OM) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.919; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.017–3.619; P = 0.044) and cancer-specific mortality (CSM) (HR, 2.120; 95% CI, 1.023–4.394; P = 0.043). In conclusion, high-risk ASA-PS score was independently associated with a lower survival rate in patients with UTUC after RNU. However, the influence of ASA-PS classification on survival was limited to locally advanced UTUC. The lower eligibility of patients in the high-risk ASA category for adjuvant chemotherapy may contribute to the lower survival rate in this group.
Anesthesia ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant* ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The resistance rate of Helicobacter pylori is gradually increasing. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of levofloxacin-based third-line H. pylori eradication in peptic ulcer disease. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2014, 110 patients in 14 medical centers received levofloxacin-based third-line H. pylori eradication therapy for peptic ulcer disease. Of these, 88 were included in the study; 21 were excluded because of lack of follow-up and one was excluded for poor compliance. Their eradication rates, treatment regimens and durations, and types of peptic ulcers were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall eradiation rate was 71.6%. The adherence rate was 80.0%. All except one received a proton-pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, and levofloxacin. One received a proton-pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, levofloxacin, and clarithromycin, and the eradication was successful. Thirty-one were administered the therapy for 7 days, 25 for 10 days, and 32 for 14 days. No significant differences were observed in the eradication rates between the three groups (7-days, 80.6% vs 10-days, 64.0% vs 14-days, 68.8%, p=0.353). Additionally, no differences were found in the eradiation rates according to the type of peptic ulcer (gastric ulcer, 73.2% vs duodenal/gastroduodenal ulcer, 68.8%, p=0.655). CONCLUSIONS: Levofloxacin-based third-line H. pylori eradication showed efficacy similar to that of previously reported first/second-line therapies.
Amoxicillin ; Clarithromycin ; Compliance ; Follow-Up Studies ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Levofloxacin ; Peptic Ulcer* ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: The conventional cervicofacial flap may cause the aesthetic problem of sideburns with a mismatched shape and arrangement. We developed a modified method with the goals of minimizing the destruction of the shape and arrangement of the sideburns and minimizing complications in comparison with the conventional method. METHODS: The incision line was designed to descend just in front of the sideburns, without passing through them, and then to ascend with the sideburns posteriorly when a cervicofacial flap is performed, unlike the conventional method. Patients in whom this method was applied (group B) and patients who underwent surgery using the conventional method (group A) were investigated in a retrospective study. The method was evaluated by assessing changes in the arrangement of the sideburns and patients' satisfaction, and differences in the complication rate. RESULTS: In group A, 23 of the 31 patients experienced changes in the arrangement of their sideburns. Most patients who experienced a change in the arrangement of their sideburns were dissatisfied with the change. The patients in group B did not experience such changes, and the defects were well reconstructed. Most of them were satisfied with the final sideburn arrangement. CONCLUSION: A novel method was used to preserve the sideburns while performing a cervicofacial flap. As a result, the appearance of the sideburns was well preserved and the satisfaction of patients was also high. Moreover, this technique could also prove useful for reconstruction without any increase in complications compared to the conventional method.
Cheek ; Eyelids ; Humans ; Methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Flaps

Osteomas are benign, slow-growing tumors that most frequently occur in the craniomaxillofacial region. These tumors are mostly asymptomatic and are generally found incidentally. A giant osteoma is generally considered to be greater than 30 mm in diameter or 110 g in weight. A 35-year-old female presented to us with complaints of a firm mass that showed continuous growth on the forehead following trauma. A hairline incision was made to expose the osteoma. Biopsy of the tumor confirmed a osteoma. There were no complications after surgery. Postoperative computed tomography revealed that the tumor was completely removed. Because a peripheral giant osteoma of the frontal bone with a history of trauma is a rare finding, thorough history-taking, physical examination, and preoperative imaging tests are needed for patients with a history of trauma to rule out a giant osteoma.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Female ; Forehead ; Frontal Bone* ; Humans ; Osteoma* ; Physical Examination

Osteomas are benign, slow-growing tumors that most frequently occur in the craniomaxillofacial region. These tumors are mostly asymptomatic and are generally found incidentally. A giant osteoma is generally considered to be greater than 30 mm in diameter or 110 g in weight. A 35-year-old female presented to us with complaints of a firm mass that showed continuous growth on the forehead following trauma. A hairline incision was made to expose the osteoma. Biopsy of the tumor confirmed a osteoma. There were no complications after surgery. Postoperative computed tomography revealed that the tumor was completely removed. Because a peripheral giant osteoma of the frontal bone with a history of trauma is a rare finding, thorough history-taking, physical examination, and preoperative imaging tests are needed for patients with a history of trauma to rule out a giant osteoma.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Female ; Forehead ; Frontal Bone* ; Humans ; Osteoma* ; Physical Examination

BACKGROUND: The cheek rotation flap has sufficient blood flow and large flap size and it is also flexible and easy to manipulate. It has been used for reconstruction of defects on cheek, lower eyelid, or medial and lateral canthus. For the large defects on central nose, paramedian forehead flap has been used, but patients were reluctant despite the remaining same skin tone on damaged area because of remaining scars on forehead. However, the cheek flap is cosmetically superior as it uses the adjacent large flap. Thus, the study aims to demonstrate its versatility with clinical practices. METHODS: This is retrospective case study on 38 patients who removed facial masses and reconstructed by the cheek rotation flap from 2008 to 2015. It consists of defects on cheek (16), lower eyelid (12), nose (3), medial canthus (3), lateral canthus (2), and preauricle (2). Buccal mucosa was used for the reconstruction of eyelid conjunctiva, and skin graft was processed for nasal mucosa reconstruction. RESULTS: The average defect size was 6.4 cm², and the average flap size was 47.3 cm². Every flap recovered without complications such as abnormal slant, entropion or ectropion in lower eyelid, but revision surgery required in three cases of nasal side wall reconstruction due to the occurrence of dog ear on nasolabial sulcus. CONCLUSION: The cheek rotation flap can be applicable instead of paramedian forehead flap for the large nasal sidewall defect reconstruction as well as former medial and lateral canthal defect reconstruction.
Animals ; Cheek* ; Cicatrix ; Conjunctiva ; Dogs ; Ear ; Ectropion ; Entropion ; Eyelids ; Forehead ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Mouth Mucosa ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nose ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Skin Pigmentation ; Transplants

We report a case of acute upper limb ischemia suspected to have originated from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis native valve endocarditis in a 57-year-old man who had complained of sudden-onset fever and pain in the right hand. 3D computed tomography of the right upper extremity detected a thrombus occluding the brachial artery. Echocardiography showed a large vegetation on the aortic valve. Thus, we suspected, clinically, brachial artery occlusion by septic emboli originating from a large vegetation of the aortic valve. The patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics for the suspected methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis-native valve endocarditis with a combination of percutaneous aspiration thromboembolectomy and selective intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute thromboembolic occlusion in the right upper limb. The large vegetation of the aortic valve resolved without surgery and aortic regurgitation improved. The patient recovered uneventfully with no complications, including septic embolism, over the following 11 months.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Aortic Valve ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Brachial Artery ; Echocardiography ; Embolism ; Endocarditis* ; Fever ; Hand ; Humans ; Ischemia* ; Methicillin Resistance ; Middle Aged ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus epidermidis* ; Thromboembolism ; Thrombosis ; Upper Extremity*